Q: Where's the safest place to live, in terms of avoiding natural disasters?
http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/environment/a25230/safest-place-on-earth/
"Those who thrive in chilly conditions should head to places like Finland, Estonia, or Iceland, which are all too far north and east to be at risk for Atlantic hurricanes and too butt-ass cold for tornadoes to form. Conversely, if hot, dry weather is your thing, grab your sunblock, learn how to say "I'm Canadian, eh" in Arabic, and settle in somewhere like Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, or Saudi Arabia. "
"If those two extremes are too extreme, Singapore is an interesting compromise. It has a tropical climate but, thanks to its position roughly astride the equator, is safe from harsh weather. Storms must be distinctly north or south of the equator in order to spin up to strength."
Well it's settled. I'm moving in with Stoo.

If you read the Ciaphas Cain books in order I think thats a good intro into the Warhammer40k universe. There tends to be a bit of notes in the book explaining words and phrases Cain uses that are part of the universe. And it's witty enough to where I think even the most casual reader of sci-fi novels would enjoy.

The Night Angel Trilogy - Brent Weeks
The Lightbringer Series - Brent Weeks
The Shadowdance Series - David Dalglish
All 3 above are really great series I enjoyed.
And my all time favorite are any of the books written about Commissar Ciaphas Cain of the Warhammer40k universe - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ciaphas_Cain